Tuesday, June 8, 2010

This just in: something is seriously wrong with the Phillies offense. After yet another pathetic offensive effort in a 3-1 loss to the Padres on Monday, it's time to start looking at the Phillies as a team with a broken offense rather than a team that is simply in a slump. Just have a look at these stats:

*The last time the Phillies scored double digit runs was on May 17th against the Pirates when the won 12-2. Since that game, the Phillies have scored 40 runs in 19 games, an average of 2.1 runs per game, and have a record of 6-13.

*In that stretch of 19 games, the Phillies were shut out 5 times and scored 1 run 4 times.

*While they have given up an average of 3.9 runs per game, Phillies pitching has been good at times over the stretch, including the Roy Halladay perfect game as well as a couple of strong outings by Kyle Kendrick, a complete game win by Jamie Moyer and Monday's no-hit bid by Cole Hamels.

*Over their last 12 games, the Phillies as a team have hit .222, have an OBP of .300 and have hit 3 home runs and drove in 24 runs. That's right, 3 homers in 12 games for a team that has Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley.

Okay, so if you've been watching the Phillies at all over the past few weeks, you know what these stats are telling you: the offense has been brutal. As for reasons why, I'm at a total loss. The only everyday player missing right now is Jimmy Rollins but you can't tell me his absence has that great of an effect. There are some theories out there about Chase Utley being injured but that only explains why Utley isn't hitting. How do you explain the huge funk Jayson Werth is in? How do you explain why Ryan Howard has hit only one home run in his last 14 games?

Clearly, something is wrong with this team; unfortunately, I don't know of a quick fix that will right the ship. This team is too good to hit like this for long stretches so the team could just sit back and wait for the guys to start heating up again. If things go much longer, though, expect the Phillies to start taking extreme measures and cut guys like Raul Ibanez and Greg Dobbs and rush someone like Domonic Brown up to the majors.

Whatever needs to be done, whatever needs to be figured out, it needs to happen soon. Phillies fans are getting really tired of watching a supposed offensive juggernaut hit like a bunch of Wilson Valdez's. Sure, you can call us greedy because the Phillies have been to two straight World Series, but that's what makes this whole situation worse. The Phillies are a team capable of greatness and we are all growing increasingly frustrated watching them not bother to show up at the plate. Luckily for the Phillies, there is a lot of season left and no one is going to run away with the NL East. Let's hope for a quick turnaround so we can all look back and laugh about this late May/early June swoon.